Plans to bring a new education hub to White City will go on display on Friday and Saturday (November 11 and 12).
The public consultation will detail proposals to redevelop Ark Swift Primary Academy , Harmony Neighbourhood Nursery, the Adult Community Learning Centre and surrounding land in White City.
Several partner organisations are working on the project, including Ark Swift and Harmony, to redevelop the site and bring forward draft plans for the education hub called EdCity.
The proposals would see a new state-of-the-art facility for Ark Swift Primary Academy, as well as improved play space for pupils.
In addition, EdCity would provide expanded facilities for Harmony Neighbourhood Nursery, increasing its capacity from 46 to 75 spaces. The proposals also include plans to expand the Adult Community Learning Centre, allowing it to provide more education and training to local people.
EdCity will also provide new workspace, leased to charities and social enterprises focused on education, encouraging collaboration and co-working. The organisations based at EdCity will also be required to demonstrate their commitment to the White City community by offering mentoring and volunteering opportunities to local people, creating additional routes into employment and higher education.
There will also be a new Youth Zone, run by young people’s charity OnSide which would offer a range of facilities and activities in sports, arts, music, employability and mentoring to young people aged from 8 to 19, or up to 25 for those with a disability.
The draft plans include new homes that will be offered to key workers in education, helping to attract and retain teaching talent for the local community. The layout for EdCity will also create a new pedestrian and cycle route between the White City estate and Dorando Close, opening up the site and improving links to Wood Lane, the tube stations and new developments in the area.
Project manager Jack Sallabank said: “EdCity is a ground-breaking project where organisations with a shared mission will collaborate to improve education standards in the local community, London and beyond. Our priority now is talking to the local community to gather feedback on the draft plans – we want to hear from as many people as possible and work with them to shape this project.”
Ark Swift Primary principal Jason Marantz added: “We are delighted to be working as part of the team to make EdCity a reality. The project offers an excellent opportunity to invest in Ark Swift and its pupils, ensuring that it continues to improve and develop for years to come.”
The consultation event will take place on Friday from 4pm-9pm at the White City Community Centre and on Saturday from 10am-4pm at Ark Swift Primary Academy.
Draft plans will also be available at the EdCity website from Friday, where feedback can also be submitted.
Following the consultation, all feedback will be considered before the plans are finalised and a planning application is submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham Council early next year.
If approved, construction work could begin in mid 2017, with the new facilities ready within three years.
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